Material of building construction.



PATERTED NOV. 13, 1906. Gr F. THORN. y MATERIAL OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLIGATION FILED DBO. 5, 1905.

Iniventor:

i To all ichom/ itnt'cty concern: Be it knownthat I, GEORGE F. TnoaN, a

UNKTED sm les GEORGE E. rnonn,

arest carton.

or New YORK, N. r.

v n "if Specification of Letters Patent. Patented'Nov. 13, 1906 g li tion'filed December a 1905. Serial No. 290L427.

citizen of thellnited States, residing at New York, in'thefcbnnty of New York and State of New Yorlt',' 'havc invented certain new and useful Improvements in Materials of Building Construction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to columns adapted to be employed as materials of construction; and its novelty consists in the construction and adaptation oi" the parts, as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.

The present case forms one of a series of copending applications for patents of the United States which I have filed for 001 umns, of which the others are as follows: No. 277,213, iiled September 5, 1'905; No. 288,099, filed October 17, 1905, and No. 298,116, filed January 27, 1906. The inventions embodied in these several applications for patents embody certain generic features common to all, each showing a plurality of casings or columns coupled with each other by member which is supported by one casing or column and supports the one next above it and which member'is hollow and contains within it a filling of cement or other suitable material which the casing or column.

In its relation to my earlier-filed applications, Serial Nos. 277,213 and 288,099, the present invention in common therewith has its coupling. member referred to of the form of a cap, provided with an apertured plate which supports a socket member arranged in the casing or colnmn'next above the cap, and from the aperture .there extends into the socket member referred to a pin, rod, or shaft, which serves as a holding element of the constructionv This holding element, as shown and preferred in-the present case, er:- tends entirely through the apertured plate and into the casing or column below, in which latter it is embedded in. :icnt, in

, this respect it is similar to the corresponding element of the'construction shown in my ap plication Serial No. 283,098. The constructions which are common to this and my earlier-filed cases are not'generically claimed herein, tor the reason'that such claims are embraced in the earlier'cases, the present case being based on the construction which in its relation to my aforesaid earlier applications is peculiar to the present casethat to say, the present caseis largely "founded projects into it from upon the invention which I have made, comprising a coupling member or cap of substantially identical contour or diameter as the casing members which it connects, and this feature is claimed herein per; se and with the other elements of the construction with which the cap or couplim cooperates. There are certain other features )eculiar to the present case .'as will appear "rom the followin description and claims.

art is practiced in the United States, cast-- iron columns pro vided with laterallypro ect 111g flanges or brackets to OIGCGIVG the beams constructed into ornamental s apes and with It is also economical to make and to assemble. Constructors have long sought some material would possess the advantages and the disadvantages of cast-iron columns.

The purpose of this invention is to provide such a material of construction, and to that end a column is made having a casing of steel tubing. It is provided at its top with a cap minds of cast metal of external contour and size, substantially identical with that of the rain," securing it within the tube. It is provided at its bottom with a socket member having an inwardly-projecting thimble and means For securing it firmly in place. The entire column is filled with cement and a rod of steel or other suitable material is passed through the cap into the column and is caused to project upward therefrom so that it will fit into the socket of the column next to aflord a firm and rigid hold to the cement filling inside of thesteel casing. The cap is PI'OVlClBd withthe usual lateral flan es or brackets with which the cast-iron co umns are commonly supplied. y

In ordinary buildingconstruction, as. the

of the building and with terminal flanges reat rapidity of manufacture it continues to be employed in spite of its disadvantages. I

tubing, and is provided with means for accu- -mous advantage of being ca able oflbeing Ice above it and downward therefrom far enough steel suitably secure-d together atits edges.

fore.

- strong, cheap, quickly made, andreadilyas By this invention I secure a column which is readily made of a superior material rolled steel. Tthas all of the advantages of a castiron column, because those parts which are required to be shaped are of cast-iron, as be It filled with cement and is therefore non-inflammable .in itself, and being solid atfords no opportunity of performing the function of a flue. It has adequate means for uniting it with the columns above and below it in the series by means of the socket membeisand steel pins with which each column is provided, and the resulting construction is sembl ed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central ver tical section through a series of columns embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the plane of the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, showing the construction of the socket-fiange; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a modified form of the central rod.

In the drawings, 1 is a shell or casing made of any suitable size, shape, and material, but preferably about nine feet in length, cylindrical or polyhedral in shape, and of rolled 2 is the cap therefor made of cast metal and having a tubular body 20,. whioh extends above the casing, an upper terminal plate 21, provided with an aperture 22 and a dependwell down into the casing 1 and snugly fit against the inner surface of the latter, The cap 2 is also provided with one or more laterally-proj ecting flanges or brackets 24 and with fins or ribs 25. when the same are deemed desirable. I

At its bottom the casing 1 is provided with a socket member 3, comprising an upwardlyprojecting thimble 30 and an outwardly-projecting flange 31 snugly fitting the inner surface of the casing 1. This fiange is provided with openings 32 32, communicating with the interior of the casing and the purpose of which will presently appear.

Placed inside of the casing, fitting into the socket 3, and projecting downward well into the body of the column below the neck of the cap 2 is a rod 4, made of steel or any suitable material and having an upper end 41; The whole interior of the cap and casing surrounding the outer surface of the rod 4 and socket 3 is filled with a body of cement 5.

The manner'of making and assembling the parts is as follows: The casing 1 is first made and the cap 2 fitted therein. The parts so arranged are then placed vertically, but upside down, .npon a platform which is recessed to receive the upper end 41 of the rod 4, which when. the parts are in that position prijectsbelow the plane of the plate 21. The cap and easing are then filled with cement, which is tapped or rammed tightwell into place, the column being filled up to about the tlier allowed to iarden.

'sional strains on the latter.

dotted line 6, leaving a space 60 between it and the end of the column. The column is then removed and placed on a rack or other convenient sup )ort, and the cement is fur- It will be seen that by the procedure just outlined there has been. made practically a unitary construction out of the casing, the cap, the projecting rod, and the cement filling and. which comprises a cement-filled cylinder having a head provided with a bracket and with a projecting axial rod. "When the columns are to be assembled, the socket members must first be inserted. To do this, each. column is again inverted, and the cup-shaped space between the line 6 and the bottom of the casing is filled with liquid or semiliquid cement, and the socket is then put in position. This causes the cement displaced by the metal of the socket member to ooze out through the openings 32 provided for that purpose, the space Strut the end of the column surrounding the thimble being thus completely filled with the cement. lVhen this portion of the cem out has hardened around the thimble, the socket member is in place to stay. The columns are then assembled injthe usual manner, the projecting rod at the top of each column fitting into the interior of the thimble of the socket at the bottom of the column next above it.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a modification of the central rod, in which it is shown made of a steel casing 44 and a cement filling 45. It will be understood that this compound rod 100 is completely made before it is inserted into the cap and casing. This construction is very cheap and may be used to. advantage if the strains to be transmitted can well be borne thereby.

It will be observed that in'this construction the cap can be made just as large as the casing and need be made nolarger. This permits of a desirable gain in space. The bracket member and the cap rest upon the in casing, and consequently there areno tor- VVhen the'cap overlaps the column and is of greater external diameter than the same, there is a tendency under stress for the cap to rotate andnn5 press in its lower edge against the side, ofthe casing and crack the-column atthat point. By making-the cap of the same external diameter as the casing the disadvantage is overi come, for the reason that thev strains are 12o transmitted vertically, all the weight upon the girders passin downward through the column in a vertica direction, in which direction the column is strongest to resist rupture. Unskilled lab r can be employed in the con- 12 5 struction, a sembling, and erection of these columns at a great saving of expense.

What I claim as new is- 1. A column comprising a hollow casing,-a

capseated on the same, the cap and casing 9 being of substantially identical external. diameter, and filling within the casing adapting the column to resist crushing strams.

2. A column comprising a hollow casing, a hollow cap seated thereon and extending I above the same and having a reduced neck extending into the casing, the cap and casing being of substantially identicalexternal diameter, and a filling in said casing and cap adapting the column to resist crushing strains.

3. The ccmbinationwith ahollow column, of a hollow cap of substantially identical external diameter and terminating in an apertured plate and provided with means for securing the cap inside of the column, and provided also with an external bracket.

4. The combination with a hollow column,

of a hollow cap of substantially identical ex ternal diameter, and terminating in an apertured plate and provided with means for securing the cap inside of the column, consisting of a dependent neck fitting snugly inside of the column, the column and cap being filled with plastic materiall 5. The combination with ahollow column, of a hollow cap of substantially identical external diameter and terminating in an apertured plate and provided with means for securing the cap inside of the column and provided also with an external bracket, the cap and column being filled with plastic material.

'6. The combination with a hollow column,

of a socket member comprising an inwardly-' extending thimble, and a projecting flange fitting snugly within the column and which flange is provided with apertures communi- I eating with the interior of the column.

7. A new article of manufacture, comprising a hollow casing provided wlth a tubular cap of substantially the same external diameter as the column-and having a neck adapted to fit inside of the casing and which cap is also provdded with an upper apertured plate; a socket member consistin of an inwardlyprojecting thimble and a ange adapted to fit the casing; a rod passing through the cap and projecting down into the casing and a body of plastic material filling the space within the cap and casing and surrounding the rod and socket-thimble.

8. The combination with a hollow column,

' s of a hollow cap of substantially the same exwith a socket member adapted to receive the projecting rod of the first column.

9. The combination with a hollow column, of a hollow cap of substantially the same external diameter as the column and terminating in an apertured plate and provided with a neck adapted to fit snugly the interior of the column,'and a rod passing through the apcrtured plate and projecting outwardly beyond the same and inwardly into the column beyond the neck of the cap, the hollow column and cap being filled with cement whereby there is formed a substantial unitary column and cap with a projecting rod, of a second column adapted to be superimposed above the first column and provided with a socket member having a snugly fitting flange and an inwardly-projecting numble adapted to receive the projectingrod oi the first column.

10. The combination with a hollow column, of a hollow cap substantially identical in diameter and contour with the column, terminating in'an apertured plate and provided with a neck adapted to fit snugly the interior of the column, and a rod passing through the apertured plate and projecting outwardly beyond the same and inwardly into the column beyond the neck of the cap, the hollow column and cap being filled with cement whereby there is formed a substantial unitary column and cap with a projecting rod.

ill The combination with a hollow column, of a hollow cap substantially identical in diameter and contour with the column and provided with one or more bracket members and terminating in an apertured ipllate and provided with a neck adapted to t snugly the interior of the column and a rod passing through the apertured plate and projecting outwardly beyond the same and inwardly into the column beyond the neck of the cap, the hollow column and cap being filled with cement whereby there is formed a substantial unitary column and cap with a projecting rod. v

12; A series of hollow columns vertically arran ed, each having an upper hollow cap of su stantially identical diameter as the same and provided with a neck adapted to fit snugly within its column and a lower socket member having a thimble provided with means for centering it, each column.

provided with a rod adapted to fit into the socket of the column above it and extending downwardly beyond its cap, each column and cap being filled with cement.

13. A series of hollow columns vertically arran ed, each having an u per hollow cap substantially identical iameter as the same and provided with a neck adapted to provided with a rod adapted to fit into the socket of the column above it and extending downwardly beyond its Cap, each column and cap being filled with cement andeach cap having one or more bracket members;

14. A5 a new article of manufacture, a hol-' low column provided with a centralproject ing rod consisting of a tube filled with cement.

15. As a new article 'of manufacture, a hollow column provided with an ixpertiiredter .minal late and a projecting rod made 'of a tubefi lld ith cement. I .16.,The combination with a hollow column, of a hollcw cap terminating in an a ertured late and fir'o'vided with a neck adapt- 15 ed to t snugly t e interior of the column and. a rod, consisting of a cementfilled tube, passing through the plate and i W dly beyond the same an inwardly well wihin the columns, thecolumns and cap 20- being filled with cement. l 1

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature inpi esence Of two witnesees.

rojecting out- 

